COLIN Montgomerie (pictured) shrugged off his personal problems with a sparkling round at the Celtic Manor Wales Open, but it was the unknown Simon Khan who stole the glory on day two.

Khan, 31, demolished the Wentwood Hills course to smash the previous course record of 63.

Khan carded a superb 61 and went out in 27, equalling the all-time European Tour record for the first nine holes.

He goes into the second round as the leader on 14 under par, but England's Paul Casey is chasing him hard on 12 under par after a scintallating round of 63, which equalled the previous course record. Meanwhile Montgomerie was more than satisfied with a 68 which leaves him five off the lead at nine under par.

Montgomerie, who was forced to dash back to his London apartment on Thursday evening because of a flood, showed glimpses of the splendid iron play that helped him to top the Volvo Order of Merit seven years in a row.

Newport based Phillip Price, who came into the competition with high hopes of becoming the first Welsh winner, was disappointed to only pick up two shots and finish at two under par, twelve adrift of Khan.

Despite a flurry of birdies Price dropped shots on 16 and 17 and admits that the chances of him winning the tournament are "Very slim indeed."

Defending champion Ian Poulter is also unlikely to claim back-to-back victories, despite one punter betting £15,000 on him doing just that.

Poulter is not out of contention at four under par, but would need two superb rounds to chase the leading group.

Blackwood's Bradley Dredge's miserable run of form got even worse as he missed the cut for the third successive tournament.

Dredge was left disappointed as his 73 proved to be two shots too many to allow him to stay into the weekend.

Veteran Welshman Ian Woosnam turned back the clock to fire 69 and stay in the hunt at four under par. Another Welshman, Stephen Dodd, is five under.

St Pierre professional Liam Bond and Monmouth's David Park failed to make the cut, with Park bowing out after a disastrous 10 at the par five second cost him five shots.